Best Laying Duck Breed?

[Wild Child]

What is the best laying duck breed and how many eggs a week do you get per duck?

 

[buff goose guy]

it usually depends in what climate you live in , like if you live in a warmer place id recommend getting muscovies mine lay year round but ive heard they stop laying in winter for some of the northern states

 

[Wild Child]

I live in Minnesota, it isn't exactly the warmest climate

 

[Majd]

Kakhi campbells perhaps?

 

[Kaessa]

Khaki Campbells, Welsh Harlequins, or Runners are all really good layers.

 

[CMRDucks]

What is the best laying duck breed and how many eggs a week do you get per duck?

I'll put in a pitch for Ancona's. Lay daily and through the winter with just a night light - they get a night light because I live in the country dark with predators, can't stand it if I hear something outside and can't see if they are safe. Michigan had some crazy winter conditions and they proved to be incredibly hardy with minimal housing - a dog house with a lot of straw in a predator proof pen - still tried to forage in 3 feet of snow . They do not lay when molting or brooding - I don't think any duck does.

Do a search for "duck breed comparison chart" - you can be successful with just about any breed, depending on the effort you want to put into housing with your climate. Muscovy's being an exception in that they are not derived from mallards but a tropical breed so they need more consideration in our northern climates.

 

[Wild Child]

What about Cayugas, what experience do you guys have with them?

 

[Kaessa]

My Cayuga isn't laying at the moment (still too young), but they're supposed to be "average" layers. Then again, Mallards are supposed to be average layers, and one of my two lays an egg every single day without fail. She's an egg laying machine. Her sister lays one most days, but skips about every 5th day.

 

[caesargirl]

I live in Minnesota, it isn't exactly the warmest climate

Well, I'm in Maine, so I can say my mallard/pekin crosses laid year round with a heat lamp. Plenty of straw, and no mucking the duck house starting in October. Just piled on top. The composting created heat too. I've added Cayugas this summer... -35° this past winter! Eggs every day!

 

[caesargirl]

My Cayuga isn't laying at the moment (still too young), but they're supposed to be "average" layers. Then again, Mallards are supposed to be average layers, and one of my two lays an egg every single day without fail. She's an egg laying machine. Her sister lays one most days, but skips about every 5th day.

What age do Cayugas start to lay? Mine are about 10-11 weeks.